TEMPERATURE-INDUCED MOLECULAR REORGANIZATION IN THIN FILMS AND ON SURFACES AS OBSERVED BY GRAZING INCIDENCE INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY.

Abstract

With the use of a thermostated grazing incidence reflection (GIR) infrared cell, spectra of organic monolayers and thin polymer films have been obtained as a function of temperature. Results indicate that insight into the mechanism of molecular reorganization which often occurs at elevated temperatures can be obtained through thermal cycling experiments. In particular, studies of ultrathin poly(methylmethacrylate) left bracket PMMA right bracket films as a function of temperature reveal the onset of molecular segmental motion known to occur at the glass transition temperature, T//g (approx. 100 degree C).